It can happen to anyone. One minute your car is driving nicely with no problems and then…nothing. It won’t start and you have to catch the bus to work. You take it into your local garage and get the bad news…it’s going to cost $5000 to fix. Could this have been avoided you wonder?

Actually, yes it could, and it all starts with looking after the car properly on a regular basis so you are not left with a huge repair bill. Unfortunately most people make huge car maintenance mistakes, which means they are putting their car at risk unnecessarily Keep reading to learn what mistakes you could be making.

Not paying attention to the “check engine” light

The most common mistake is ignoring the light on your dashboard that tells you to check the engine. Most people assume that because the car is still running normally there isn’t a huge problem, and so they keep on putting it off until it’s too late. Once that “check engine” light comes on either get looking in the engine or take it to a mechanic.

Not getting your car serviced on a regular basis

Let’s imagine that you own a Porsche in Orange County…are you going to keep on driving it for years without taking the car to be serviced? Of course you won’t. Instead, you’ll take it to a Porsche service Orange County garage and make sure the car is kept running smoothly so you can keep on enjoying it. It doesn’t matter kind of car you own, getting it serviced on a regular basis is crucial.

Not checking tire pressure

There are many reasons why you should be checking the tire pressure on a weekly basis…although the vast majority of people don’t.

Firstly, having the correct tire pressure helps with fuel economy, which ultimately saves you money. Secondly, it helps to keep you safe, especially when driving in wet conditions. Lastly, if you get pulled over by the Police and your tire pressure is not correct then you can expect to be fined, and even have your car taken away from you. Needless to say, it’s important to check the tire pressure every week.

Not inspecting your brakes

It goes without saying that having your brakes working at 100% is crucial for your safety and the safety of everybody else, so why do the vast majority of drivers not inspect their brakes on a regular basis? They really should.

Not only that, but if you hear any kind of noises coming from your brakes then you must take your car to a garage as soon as possible.

The right piece of equipment, purchased at the right time, has the ability to take your business to the next level. However, if you get it wrong then it can cost you a lot of money and dramatically halt your chances of taking the business forward.

This is why it is very important to look at every angle before parting with your cash. Take your time to educate yourself about the pros and cons of buying an expensive piece of equipment such as Edwards gas scrubbers and other hi-tech machinery.

Read the following information to gain a clearer picture of what you should be doing next…

Know your goals

The easiest way to make sure you are purchasing the right kind of equipment and machinery for your business is to have clearly defined goals.

As an example, if you want to increase your productivity and output, then looking for things that will help you achieve this goal should be your number 1 priority. Don’t get sidetracked with other equipment that might be nice to buy, but isn’t essential and won’t take you closer to your goals.

Seek advice

While the final decision should be made by you about what equipment and machinery should be purchased, that doesn’t mean advice from the outside is to be ignored. Many times, getting advice from independent experts is a good idea, as it helps you to see things from a different point of view.

Be secretive

If you operate in a competitive industry and you are trialing out a new piece of machinery or doing something that none of your rivals have ever tried before, then it pays to be as secretive as possible about what you are doing.

Limit the amount of people who know what is going on, and even get people to sign non-disclosure contracts before you bring them in as part of the team.

Look abroad

Searching for really cheap equipment and machinery for your business? In this type of scenario, casting a wider net is often the best way forward, as some countries have exactly what you are looking for at a fraction of the price you would pay in your own country.

Sure, it can cost quite a bit to get heavy machinery shipped from overseas, but if it still works out as a cheaper deal then it’s well worth it in the end, as you can still save a lot of money which helps to keep your expenses low.

A common problem for Americans at Christmas is overspending, especially when you consider that most families are living paycheck to paycheck and don’t really have much money.

So should you cancel Christmas this year, or maybe not buy any gifts? Luckily, you don’t have to take such drastic action, as long as you read every word in this article and follow the money saving ideas below.

Buy online

If you are prepared to spend some time shopping around then you can find some real bargains online, which work out a lot cheaper than the high street.

Best of all, many online stores will gift wrap your items in Christmas boxes and wrapping paper, meaning you don’t have to do any work at all.

Buy second hand

Who says that Christmas gifts have to be brand new? In order to make it cheap this Christmas you might want to consider buying second hand gifts that you find on an auction site such as eBay.

There are many great second hand items out there that are a fraction of the price of what you would pay in the shops, and with a bit of a cleanup they look brand new.

Wait until the sales

Does Christmas really have to be all about the 25th of December? Instead of giving presents on Christmas morning you could wait until the sales begin in January and then take your family and friends out to buy them gifts.

This works especially well if you plan to buy clothes, as these kind of items are always significantly discounted in the sales.

Keep Christmas dinner simple

It’s very easy to get carried away when shopping for Christmas dinner, and in no time at all your grocery bill can be in the hundreds of dollars.

That’s why it’s recommended you keep Christmas dinner extremely simple this year. Forget about all of the trimmings and look to serve a straight forward meal that won’t break the bank.

For example, you can buy frozen vegetables in bulk to save money, as well as swap turkey for chicken if the price of a turkey is too high.

Be prepared for next year

The earlier you start preparing for Christmas, the cheaper it will be. Many people now pick up Christmas presents throughout the year when the prices are low and a particular store is having a sale.

You can also stock up on tinned goods while they are on special offer at your supermarket, and then store them away until the end of the year.

If you are fed up with throwing your money away renting a house or apartment and you want to start investing in your future, then buying a home is the best way forward. Not only do you get your foot on the property ladder, but you also have an asset that could be profitable in the future if the market conditions are right.

So how exactly should you approach buying your first home? Luckily, we have consulted with real estate experts such as Than Merrill and many others to bring you solid advice that will ensure you don’t get ripped off or lose money.

Be patient

You’re no doubt ready to find your first home as soon as possible, but a bit of patience goes a long way when looking around your local area.

Ultimately, you have to find a property that provides you with the right things for your situation, as well as being within your financial means. If you act too fast and buy something out of your means, then you could be in financial despair for the next few years.

Get pre-approved

Let’s face it, if you are a first time home buyer then you are probably going to need a mortgage in order to complete the deal, as not may people have a bag of cash under their bed.

In this type of scenario it’s a good idea to get pre-approved before you start looking at homes, so you know exactly how much money you have to play with and are not searching for the wrong kind of properties which are out of your budget.

Homes that need work

A common tactic among first time home buyers is to buy a cheap property that needs work, with the intention of fixing it up and then having a house that is suitable for living in. Unfortunately, many people underestimate the amount of time and money that goes in to these kind of projects, and it’s not uncommon to half finished homes that have been abandoned.

For this reason, make sure you know exactly how much it is going to cost for repairs before buying a house, and also have a reliable contractor that can do the work.

Choose the right area

Many times, it’s worth paying a bit extra to buy a home in the right area, rather than going down the cheaper route but finding yourself in completely the wrong place.

As an example, if you are planning to have kids in the near future, then purchasing a property close to a good school is important, as not only will the commute be short, but you also ensure they get a good education.

There is much to admire about the landscaping business. Not only are you outside in the fresh air and getting plenty of exercise, but it’s also a very profitable venture when you get it right and know what you’re doing. You might not become a millionaire, but 6 figures a year is definitely possible, as well as having a few employees to do all of the hard work.

With this in mind, it’s important that you have a few simple steps to follow in order to get your new landscaping business off the ground. Here are 5 for starters…

Choose an area

The landscaping industry is quite broad, and trying to be a “jack-of-all-trades” is not usually the best way to go.

Instead, choose an area to specialize in, whether it’s installing garden sheds in nz or caring for lawns in America, finding your niche is essential.

Buy the necessary equipment

When you’re first starting out and on a limited budget then you will only want to buy equipment that is essential.

Typically, a good lawnmower and a few manual tools is all you need, although it depends on what area you are specializing in. If money is tight then you might want to hire equipment until you see some cash flow.

Get the word out

You can’t start making money if nobody knows about your business, which is why getting the word out should be a top priority.

How do you achieve this in a cost effective manner? The easiest way is to get a few thousand cheap flyers printed up with a good offer that will entice customers. This helps to get your foot in the door, and then once you do a good job and build trust they will want to hire you again and again.

Have the appropriate licenses

In some areas of the world you require certain licenses to operate a landscaping business. Obviously, in this article we don’t have the space to list what all of these licenses are for each country and state, which is why checking with your local authorities is the best way to find out exact and up-to-date information.

Never be tempted to move forward without the appropriate licenses as this could get you into trouble with the law.

Keep accurate records

You must treat your landscaping business like a real business right from the start, and this includes keeping accurate records about the jobs you do and the money that comes in, as well as any expenses.

The easiest way to achieve this is by hiring an accountant, so you are able to focus completely on your business without getting distracted with paperwork.